I am proud we stuck it out, says Melksham right-to-die campaigner

Jane and Tony Nicklinson. Mr Nicklinson died in 2012 and his family have continued his campaign to change the law on assisted suicide

Melksham right-to-die campaigner Jane Nicklinson is remaining positive, after four of the country’s top judges this week said MPs should discuss a change in the law on assisted suicide.

The widow of locked-in-syndrome sufferer and legal campaigner Tony Nicklinson, who died in 2012, went to London on Wednesday to hear the Supreme Court’s verdict on the latest stage of the family’s bid to overturn the ban on assisted suicide.

Mrs Nicklinson and her eldest daughter Lauren were joined in the court by fellow campaigner Paul Lamb, from Leeds, who has been paralysed since a road accident in 1990.

Seven of the nine judges ruled against them, but in an unexpected move, four also said Parliament was the body best placed to make such a change, opening up the possibility of new legislation.

Speaking after the judgement, Mrs Nicklinson said the appeal could now move to the European Court of Human Rights.

She said: “I believe we have got grounds for an appeal in Strasbourg.

"Although it didn’t go entirely in our favour it was quite surprising that courts can rule on things like this, as that was the reason why we were turned down in the High Court and Court of Appeal, so it paves the way for more cases to come and be heard in the court.